Category Archives: kids

Move over Fifth Avenue, Harlem is getting into the holiday windows game. Spanning the corridor of Frederick Douglass Boulevard between 114th and the 122nd streets, eight Harlem businesses will display windows designed and executed by fifteen students from the Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT) Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design (VPED) BFA program. The window displays will depict holiday-themed scenes from the Harlem Renaissance. The windows will be on view from November 30 to January 2. Visitors are invited to stroll through the historic neighborhood throughout the holidays and enjoy the window displays, while learning a bit of Harlem’s rich history.

To kick off the season, two free window tours on November 30 and December 3 will be provided by ArtCrawl Harlem, Inc. The tours will feature live storytellers and vignettes with actors and performers bringing the windows to life. The family friendly outing will also include free children’s activity and coloring books, highlighting historical themes of the period, and refreshments from some of the participating restaurants.

Harlem Holiday Windows free kick off event will start at the Harriet Tubman statue on 122nd Street at 5:30pm on November 30, and will feature an interactive and intergenerational music performance by special guest Shine and the Moonbeams. The second kick off, also starting on 122nd Street, will be at 3pm on December 3, ending at the Shop Harlem Live Harlem Holiday Expo at MIST. Produced by Harlem Park to Park, the program will include an art filled afternoon for kids and adults.

In addition to the free kick off tours on November 30 and December 3, a full schedule of paid tours and programming around the Holiday Windows, will be offered by ArtCrawl Harlem, Inc., throughout the holiday season, from November 30-December 21. Programming will include weekly tours on Saturdays from 3–5pm (dates include December 3,10, 17).Registration is available on the website. Rates are $10 per person or $150 for groups 15-25.

Tours are available for groups by special request. For more information on Harlem Holiday Windows, and the participating businesses visit http://www.harlemholidaywindow.com or call 212.866.7427.

I should be doing a ton of other things right now, but I’m not. I can’t stop thinking about tomorrow and the day after. November 8 has to be the biggest day in American politics and history. And every Harlem establishment imaginable is holding viewing parties tomorrow night! Where will you be watching?

Tomorrow is the big day! Let’s get out the vote tomorrow and make history together by electing the first women to the highest office in the land, President of the United States. May Wednesday be a brand, new historical day for America!

Harlem Harvest Festival (presented by Harlem Park to Park) takes place today from 11am to 4pm at 116th Street and St. Nicholas.

There is something for everyone at this one-day fall festival featuring food, farmer’s market, artisan products, family and kid friendly activities food/baking competitions, classes and live performances by local Harlem businesses and community members. See full schedule here:

· A Farmer’s Market & Artisanal Food Fair featuring fresh vegetables, produce (pumpkins, fruit, etc.) from New York farms as well as food from artisanal food vendors and wineries/breweries available for purchase.

· Whole Foods Market Artisanal Vendor Review 12-3pm – local Harlem artisanal vendors will have an opportunity to present their products to Whole Foods Market foragers/buyers for the new store coming to Harlem.

Sunday, June 21 is one busy day in Harlem. Make Music New York takes place throughout the Harlem area as well as NYC KidsFest. NYC KidsFest is scheduled this Sunday from noon to five in Morningside Park.

The event is free and packed with music, theater, dance, storytelling and much more.

Headliners of the event include:
AJR – Jam and sing along to the awesome pop sounds of MTV’s AJR.

Galli Theater Presents: Little Red Riding Hood -No need to sit down and be quiet, join the actions! Come on stage and become a part of the play! Interact with the characters, warn Little Red of the Wolf, and engage in a theater experience like no other.

Aubrey’s Show Kids-The talented dancers of Aubrey’s Show Kids hit the stage like lightning with their amazing and entertaining dance moves.

Karen A.’s Zumba Experience-Your kids will not only dance but also exercise as they have a blast rocking out to Karen A’s Zumba. This energetic and passionate professional dancer, Karen A., is also a teacher at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater.

Magnificent Mommy Dawn Lerner– Newly published by Penguin and author of My Fat Dad, Dawn will teach your children to “decipher the box” in a fun label reading activity and game.

P.S.180 Violin Players– Young and talented musicians who have been training tirelessly to entertain the crowd with a beautiful performance.

Reckless Entertainment Performers-Comprised of three artists of different talents, ranging from percussion to poetry, this ensemble brings together a variety of influences producing something unique, contemporary, and quenching your thirst for something new.

No plans for Easter? How about stopping by Harlem Shake on Lenox Avenue and 124th Street? Harlem Shake is offering one of two specialty milkshakes: Funny Bunny(hazelnut chocolate) andKool Peeps(pistachio). Also, customers will receive a 10 precent discount off their order if they come in their Easter clothes, i.e. dresses, suits and hats!

And starting now, customers who stop in with their families will receive an Easter egg coloring page with purchase. Young Harlem Shake fans (12 and under) are encouraged to get creative with their designs and submit their eggs to a coloringcontest. Three winners will be chosen on Easter Sunday and their festive creations will be proudly displayed in the Harlem Shake windows, along with winning either a $50 or $25 gift card!

Meet the Easter Bunny this weekend in Harlem! There is an Easter Egg Hunt planned this Saturday for kids 1-8 where fun games will be offered along with the opportunity to meet and have a photo with the Easter Bunny. To attend, a registration is required. See details below:

An interview with TV news show 60 Minutes can either help or hurt you depending on how it goes. For the famous Harlem Children’s Zone, sitting down with 60 Minutes has paid off in a big way! Artnet.com reports that William Louis-Dreyfus, the billionaire businessman, art collector and father to actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, is donating his art collection to the Harlem Children’s Zone. Louis-Dreyfus has a collection estimated to be worth between $10 million and $50 million.

Louis-Dreyfus told a business publication that “he made the decision to donate the proceeds from his collection to the Harlem Children’s Zone after watching a segment about the non-profit on 60 Minutes.”

The Harlem Children’s Zone is a non‑profit organization for poverty‑stricken children and families.

If you’re wondering what’s up with all the construction around the southeast corner space at 116th Street and
Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem, it’s rumored to be the new home of next door Kennedy Fried Chicken and Pizza. Apparently, they want more space and prominent location.

This should please my mother and nanny. They love this place for its inexpensive hamburgers and fried chicken. It’s also a place with good ethics. My daughters’ nanny left her wallet in there a few months ago unknowingly. My babysitter thought she left her wallet somewhere else. Fast forward to several months later, my nanny walks into Kennedy’s to purchase food and the owner says to her, “where have you been? I have something of yours!” It was my nannys’ wallet with everything intact, cash, credit cards and metro card, etc.

For my daughters first birthday party, I made sure to buy all the boxes of pizza from there! Good work ethic and decent food, deserves good business.

Stay tuned for Kennedy’s opening at their new location on 116th and FDB in Harlem.

There’s one coffee shop in Harlem that wants to cater to the growing population of kids and families in Central Harlem. Cafe Frederick Harlem Parlor on Frederick Douglass Blvd and 114th is now offering a kids program every Tuesday at 4 pm. Stories, songs and movement will be offered to children 0 to 5 with a new theme every week. Unlimited coffee and crepes will be served for $10. Check out their Facebook page to learn more.

While this event is not happening in or around Harlem, Harlemgal is sharing just incase there is a Harlem kid in our community that’s interested in getting involved with the US Open as a ballperson. You know what a person is? It’s that energetic kid that chases the ball when one of those pro tennis players hits the net!

Here’s where you have to be to try out:

Where: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens

When: Thursday, June 19. Registration begins at 3 pm, tryouts begin at 4 pm. To be selected, you must be available for interview/call-backs in mid-July and available to work Tuesday, August 19 through Monday, September 8.

Who: 14 years old and wants to be on court with the biggest stars in tennis. Must be 14 years old by August 19 (If selected you will need valid New York State Working Papers if you are less than 18 years old – contact your school’s employment office for more information).

Skill: The US Open is looking for talented athletes with great throwing arms, a love for the sport and a thorough understanding of the game.